Daily Nourishment for December 16, 2024: Writing the Unexpressed with Guidance from Erik Fuhrer
Daily Nourishment Read Time: 45 seconds
Pause/Prompt/Practice Time: 15 minutes
I am the blossom pressed in a book,
found again after two hundred years. . . .
-Jane Kenyon
Pause.
Read Jane Kenyon’s poem, “Briefly it Enters and Briefly Speaks.”
Prompt.
Write for five minutes to someone or something (this can be an object, an animal, or a particular place) that you spiritually or emotionally hold close to you, but is not physically near to you.
What would you like to say or be able to speak to or do with this person, place, or thing that you can’t express directly because of the distance?
Don’t worry if the writing gets messy or meanders. Let it flow naturally. If you end up switching who or what you are writing to in the middle of the exercise, no worries. Let it happen.
Practice.
Think of the subject of your writing at least once more today. If the subject you wrote to could write back to you, what do you think it would say? Journal about this question for three minutes.
Want More?
Read this article on writing letters meant not to be sent.
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Resources, Workshops & Gatherings
—Advent Resources: Throughout Advent, I’ll include a new resource most days. For today, here’s an Advent Webinar with Lauren F. Winner from 2023 on the theme “How the Weary World Rejoices.”
—New: A project by Charlotte Donlon and Spiritual Direction for Writers®: All of Life Is the Writing Life™
—Become an SDW Insider: (Free) Weekly emails, behind-the-scenes updates, reminders for free SDW Co-Writing sessions, early access to gatherings and retreat registrations, occasional offers and gifts, bonus resources, and more. Email Charlotte at charlotte@charlottedonlon.com to be added to the SDW Insiders.
—New Resource: Parenting with Art® Lectio Divina Cards Information about ordering these cards can be found in my Books + Spiritual Direction + Retreats & Gatherings email newsletter . To stay in the loop on all of my work, writing, book recs, and more, subscribe to that weekly newsletter at charlottedonlon.com/subscribe.
Today’s throwback Daily Nourishment was originally provided by Erik Fuhrer before we were posting Daily Nourishment on the website. Learn More about Erik and their work here.
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